Joni Mitchell, Free Man In Paris: Karaoke Stars

On the laquered Thai chicken-cage in which we keep our stereo and music, we played Joni Mitchell's most popular all-time CD tonight. Lord Wife pointed out that Joni Mitchell's song 'Free Man in Paris' was specifically written about her extremely talented, music-loving record producer (David Geffen) and about the anonymity and freedom he once enjoyed in Europe. So I just searched on YouTube for it, and this excellent karaoke version of the song came up on the first hit. Listened to it, and didn't notice at first it wasn't Joni Mitchell. It's very close and very well done, from somewhere in Japan. You don't have to be closeted like David Geffen to dig it, too. But I'm starting to understand.

The lyrics:

The way I see it, he said
You just cant win it...
Everybody's in it for their own gain
You cant please 'em all
theres always somebody calling you down...
I do my best,
And I do good business!
Theres a lot of people asking for my time,
They're trying to get ahead,
They're trying to be a good friend of mine!

But I was a free man in Paris,
I felt unfettered and alive!
There was nobody calling me up for favors,
No ones future to decide.
You know Id go back there tomorrow
But for the work Ive taken on.
Stoking the star maker machinery
Behind the popular song...

I deal in dreamers
And telephone screamers
Lately I wonder what I do it for
If l had my way
Id just walk through those doors
And wander...
Down the Champs d'Elysees
Going from cafe to cabaret
Thinking of how I'll feel when I find
That very good friend of mine.

I was a free man in Paris,
I felt unfettered and alive!
Nobody was calling me up for favors
No ones' future to decide.
You know I'd go back there tomorrow
But for the work I've taken on
stoking the star maker machinery
behind the popular song.